"Whatever is admirable - think about such things." Philippians 4:8
Whatever is 'admirable' means to have a good report, to see the good, or to declare what is good. We are to be just like Joshua and Caleb, who had a good report of the promise land. The other spies spoke a bad report, and there was nothing 'admirable' in what they said about God or their future (Numbers 13:27-33). Proverbs 18:20-21 says, 'From the fruit of his mouth a man's stomach is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.' As we think, our lives will go, and as we speak, so the seeds we sow. We can always speak a good report, because our:
GOD IS ALWAYS GOOD…
"The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him." Nahum 1:7
Believing in God's goodness helps us speak a good report. But if we struggle with doubt, we can be overcome with fear that what we are going through will be the end of us - this affects the way we talk. negative speech is linked to bad thoughts and wrong beliefs. Jesus said in Luke 6:45, 'The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.' If our hearts are filled with the belief that God is good, we, like Joshua and Caleb, will speak a good report and bring promise to others. Thinking and speaking what is good gives hope.
…AND SO IT IS ALL GOOD…
"God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5
Whether we feel it (Him) or not, God is always with us, even when we are going through our darkest times. In fact, He is especially with us in the darkest hours. If God has said, 'never will I leave you; never will I forsake you', we should trust Him - He means it. So, we know that God is good, He is with us, and He is working in us and for our good.
"We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
Because of this, we can always find the good in anything we go through - God is at work for our good. This changes the way we talk about our troubles. We can now speak positive words that are rooted in faith that God will work all things for our good. Because God said it makes it true. But if God had not said it, then we cross our fingers.
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